IRAQ: Boy soldiers barely eight years old are fighting with militants in Iraq – and joining baying mobs watching brutal executions. Footage has emerged showing young lads with guns looking on as a prisoner captured in Mosul by Isis insurgents is shot in the back of the head. Gangs hoping to topple the Iraqi government were within 30 miles of Baghdad today.

IRAN: Foreign Secretary William Hague made the shock announcement that Britain will look to reopen its embassy in Iran’s capital Tehran, which has been shut since violent protests in 2011. America is also looking at co-operating with its old enemy as the Iraq/Syria crisis intensifies. The US is sending 275 troops to Iraq to protect staff in its Baghdad embassy. It is also considering deploying elite special forces.

KENYA: A dozen women have been abducted and 15 killed in a terror attack on the country’s coast – just days after 49 people were massacred as they watched a World Cup match. Somalia's terror group al-Shabab group claimed responsibility saying it was revenge for the killing of Muslims by Kenyan forces.

CHINA: David Cameron said he wanted to strengthen the UK's relationship with China as he welcomed premier Li Keqiang to Downing Street.

UK: A Conference South footballer and two Far Eastern businessmen have been convicted of involvement in a match-fixing conspiracy targeting lower league fixtures.

UK: Jurors trying the case of Rolf Harris should dismiss any feelings of emotion or speculation when deciding whether the veteran entertainer is guilty of indecently assaulting four women, a judge has told them. The jury could go out tomorrow.

UK: 95% of people questioned in social attitudes about Britain think you must speak English to be considered "truly British", up from 83% ten years ago.

UK: A junior civil servant in Merseyside has been fired for posting sickening Wikipedia edits about Hillsborough, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maud confirmed today. But he admitted efforts to find other culprits were being abandoned.

UK: More than 2,600 jobs at Morrisons are being axed as the supermarket chain goes through a management restructuring.